Uganda’s war on used clothing

The morning market in Kampala is packed with vendors selling second-hand clothes. Uganda has traditionally imported large quantities of used clothing, which many Ugandans prefer due to its affordability. — AFP

FOR nearly three decades, the chaotic, overcrowded Owino second-hand market in Uganda’s capital Kampala has been the cornerstone of Hadija Nakimuli’s life, helping the widowed shopkeeper build a house and raise 12 children.

But a potential government ban on the sale of used clothing threatens to sever this crucial lifeline for Nakimuli and tens of thousands of vendors like her.